I’d trusted his statements.

Admitting that was painful, especially in a room where every word seemed to carry weight.

But I wasn’t there to make myself look wise.

I was there to tell the truth.

Records presented in the proceedings linked portions of the funds I’d sent to expenses unrelated to Emma’s care.

Other evidence concerned false identity and insurance claims.

The court would have to decide what each person had knowingly done and what legal consequences followed.

I couldn’t recover seven years by insisting that everyone be punished on the same day.